The Crimson Tide - A Novel

Robert W. (Robert William) Chambers

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• Publié par: chiwyir
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 40
• Langue: English

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Crimson Tide, by Robert W. Chambers This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: The Crimson Tide Author: Robert W. Chambers Illustrator: A. I. Keller Release Date: September 1, 2009 [EBook #29880] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRIMSON TIDE *** Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net “I HATE IT AS YOU HATED THE BEASTS WHO SLEW YOUR FRIEND” THE CRIMSON TIDE A NOVEL By ROBERT W. CHAMBERS Author of “The Moonlit Way.” “The Laughing Girl,” “The Restless Sex,” etc. WITH FRONTISPIECE BY A. I. KELLER A. L. BURT COMPANY Publishers New York Published by arrangement with D. Appleton and Company COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY ROBERT W. CHAMBERS Copyright, 1919, by THE INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE COMPANY PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA To MARGARET ILLINGTON BOWES AND EDWARD J. BOWES I I’d rather walk with Margaret, I’d rather talk with Margaret, And anchor in some sylvan nook And fish Dream Lake with magic hook Than sit indoors and write this book. II An author’s such an ass, alas! To watch the world through window glass When out of doors the skies are fair And pretty girls beyond compare–– Like Margaret––are strolling there. III I’d rather walk with E. J. Bowes, I’d rather talk with E. J. Bowes, In woodlands where the sunlight gleams Across the golden Lake of Dreams Than drive a quill across these reams. IV If I could have my proper wish With these two friends I’d sit and fish Where sheer cliffs wear their mossy hoods And Dream Lake widens in the woods, But Fate says “No! Produce your goods!” ENVOI Inspect my goods and choose a few Dear Margaret, and Edward, too; Then sink them in the Lake of Dreams In dim, gold depths where sunshine streams Down from the sky’s unclouded blue, And I’ll be much obliged to you. R. W. C. FOREWORD An American ambulance going south stopped on the snowy road; the driver, an American named Estridge, got out; his companion, a young woman in furs, remained in her seat. Estridge, with the din of the barrage in his ears, went forward to show his papers to the soldiers who had stopped him on the snowy forest road. His papers identified him and the young woman; and further they revealed the fact that the ambulance contained only a trunk and some hand luggage; and called upon all in authority to permit John Henry Estridge and Miss Palla Dumont to continue without hindrance the journey therein described. The soldiers––Siberian riflemen––were satisfied and seemed friendly enough and rather curious to obtain a better look at this American girl, Miss Dumont, described in the papers submitted to them as “American companion to Marie, third daughter of Nicholas Romanoff, ex-Tzar.” An officer came up, examined the papers, shrugged. “Very well,” he said, “if authority is to be given this American lady to join the Romanoff family, now under detention, it is not my affair.” But he, also, appeared to be perfectly good natured about the matter, accepting a cigarette from Estridge and glancing at the young woman in the ambulance as he lighted it. “You know,” he remarked, “if it would interest you and the young lady, the Battalion of Death is over yonder in the birch woods.” “The woman’s battalion?” asked Estridge. “Yes. They make their début to-day. Would you like to see them? They’re going forward in a few minutes, I believe.” Estridge nodded and walked back to the ambulance. “The woman’s battalion is over in those birch woods, Miss Dumont. Would you care to walk over and see them before they leave for the front trenches?” The girl in furs said very gravely: “Yes, I wish to see women who are about to go into battle.” She rose from the seat, laid a fur-gloved hand on his offered arm, and stepped down onto the snow. “To serve,” she said, as they started together through the silver birches, following a trodden way, “is not alone the only happiness in life: it is the only reason for living.” “I know you think so, Miss Dumont.” “You also must believe so, who are here as a volunteer in Russia.” “It’s a little more selfish with me. I’m a medical student; it’s a liberal education for me even to drive an ambulance.” “There is only one profession nobler than that practised by the physician, who serves his fellow men,” she said in a low, dreamy voice. “Which profession do you place first?” “The profession of those who serve God alone.” “The priesthood?” “Yes. And the religious orders.” “Nuns, too?” he demanded with the slightest hint of impatience in his pleasant voice. The girl noticed it, looked up at him and smiled slightly. xi xii xiii “Had my dear Grand Duchess not asked for me, I should now he entering upon my novitiate among the Russian nuns.... And she, too, I think, had there been no revolution. She was quite ready a year ago. We talked it over. But the Empress would not permit it. And then came the trouble about the Deaconesses. That was a grave mistake–––” She checked herself, then: “I do not mean to criticise the Empress, you understand.” “Poor lady,” he said, “such gentle criticism would seem praise to her now.” They were walking through a pine belt, and in the shadows of that splendid growth the snow remained icy, so that they both slipped continually and she took his arm for security. “I somehow had not thought of you, Miss Dumont, as so austerely inclined,” he said. She smiled: “Because I’ve been a cheerful companion––even gay? Well, my gaiety made my heart sing with the prospect of seeing again my dearest friend––my closest spiritual companion––my darling little Grand Duchess.... So I have been, naturally enough, good company on our three days’ journey.” He smiled: “I never suspected you of such extreme religious inclinations,” he insisted. “Extreme?” “Well, a novice–––” he hesitated. Then, “And you mean, ultimately, to take the black veil?” “Of course. I shall take it some day yet.” He turned and looked at her, and the man in him felt the pity of it as do all men when such fresh, virginal youth as was Miss Dumont’s turns an enraptured face toward that cloister door which never again opens on those who enter. Her arm rested warmly and confidently within his; the cold had made her cheeks very pink and had crisped